Market Nears Two-Year Lows

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Shares slumped Wednesday, as pessimistic investors sold off stock for the fifth straight session, leaving the country's benchmark index around two-year lows.

The Sao Paulo Stock Exchange's Bovespa Index shed 161, or 2.8%, to 5655 on volume of 446 million reals worth of shares. The last time the index closed at that level was June 14, 1996. Declining issues outpaced advancers, 32 to 14, while 11 remained...